The Experience of Seoul City to Develop the Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to the Creation of International Sharing Network

Laurence Kwark,Martin Ho

doi:10.22452/mjir.vol7no1.7

Abstract

This commentary discusses the role of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. The fast pace of urbanization has caused many social and environmental problems on our planet. Instead of following the profit-maximization approach for development, SSE is regarded as one of the solutions to address the issues. This commentary introduces the characteristics of SSE and its tendency to address social and environmental issues effectively due to the people-centred and integrated approach. In the second part of the commentary, the City of Seoul is used as an example to showcase how social economy can be implemented, its achievement and contribution to the society, and the challenges for the expansion of SSE with competition within the market economy.

Highlights

It has been shown in many reports conducted by prominent international organizations that urban challenges have created a lot of burden to cities, their inhabitants and local governments
We are going to elaborate the characteristics of an Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), analyse how an SSE and its collaboration with local governments can help the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Seoul, and understand the role and contribution of the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) - an initiative of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, to international collaboration
GSEF is an international association of local governments and civil society networks engaged in the promotion of Social Economy as a mean to achieve an inclusive and sustainable local development

Summary

Introduction

It has been shown in many reports conducted by prominent international organizations that urban challenges have created a lot of burden to cities, their inhabitants and local governments. SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY (SSE) AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) SSE actors perform economic activities and development while integrating all the local conditions and constraints, which vary among countries, or even in the same city.

Results

Conclusion